Immigration

Immigration is a complex phenomenon that cannot be discussed in few lines.
Immigration is characterized by 3 steps:
Pioneering phase: when the first immigrants arrive to a country about which they don’t know anything and where they don’t have any logistics support. This is the hardest phase for an immigrant.
Intensification phase: immigrants tend to form ethnic communities, to live all in the same place. In this phase relationships with the other inhabitants, with the authority and the social services
Phase of stability: the stream of immigrants ends, families are reunited, communities begin organizing to express their own culture. (Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo)

According to Caritas data, in Italy in the last three years the number of immigrants is passed from almost 300.000 to 3.690.000, in this moment we are exactly in the second phase, the most difficult for the host country because it has to reorganize itself according to everybody’s needs. I think it’s not easy, and Italy is not expert in this issue, there’re a lot lacks in our legislation, and prejudice against immigrants. In my opinion it’s a cultural problem.

Personally I understand who says that a lots of crimes are committed by immigrants (my family had a bad experience after having helped a Romanian woman), but I understand as well who comes here full of hope.
I cannot talk about legislation because I’m not well informed, but regarding daily life there’s something that must be present in both sides, and that’s respect. Regard for who has travelled a lot and left its home looking for a better life, and regard for whom take you in.

Ah! I was supposed to write if I’m pro or con the right to immigrants to vote. Well, I’m pro. There’s no reason to cut them of, but only at some conditions: they must have lived here for a period of time, at least five years, and they must prove it. They have to know Italian and, it would be better if they had a job as well.

sources:
Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo, http://www.volint.it/scuolevis/immigrazione/immigrazione.htm, last retrieved on 13th April 2008.
Immigrazione, http://www.volint.it/scuolevis/immigrazione/immigrazione.htm, last retrieved on 12th April 2008